Our list of the top 10 Escape the Fate songs showcases a band that successfully merges various musical influences to forge a significant presence in rock music. Founded in 2004 by guitarist Bryan Monte Money, Escape the Fate began with members drawn from various bands. The band’s early days were modest, but they soon leveraged their collective skills and experiences to build a strong reputation. In 2005, they won a local radio contest judged by My Chemical Romance, which led to an opening slot on their tour, alongside Reggie and the Full Effect and Alkaline Trio. Their standout performances on this tour and an impressive self-released EP demo caught the attention of Epitaph Records.
Escape the Fate released their debut EP, Dying Is Your Latest Fashion, in May 2006, and followed up with a full-length album of the same name in September. The band experienced several lineup changes, with some members leaving for personal reasons and others being dismissed, including Radke, who former Blessthefall vocalist Craig Mabbitt replaced. Escape the Fate has since released several albums, the most recent being Chemical Warfare in 2021. Influenced by iconic bands like Guns N’ Roses, Linkin Park, Led Zeppelin, Metallica, and Aerosmith, Escape the Fate has produced a compelling catalog spanning seven studio albums. Here are our top 10 Escape the Fate songs.
# 10 – My Apocalypse
Opening our top 10 Escape the Fate songs is the track “My Apocalypse” from their 2006 album Dying Is Your Latest Fashion. Written by the band members, “My Apocalypse” features a blend of hard rock and metal elements. The song showcases the band’s talented vocalists, who deliver both melodic singing and intense growling. Notably, Metallica released a similarly titled song two years later—though with different lyrics—which won a Grammy for Best Metal Performance in 2009.
# 9 – This War Is Ours (The Guillotine II)
“This War Is Ours (The Guillotine II)” is a standout track from Escape the Fate’s 2008 album This War Is Ours. This song is sure to energize listeners with its electrifying instrumentation, particularly the dynamic drumming and guitar work. True to form, the band delivers a powerful combination of polished vocals and intense screams, captivating listeners from start to finish. The seamless transition from melodic singing to compelling growls in this song is truly remarkable.
# 8 – Gorgeous Nightmare
“Gorgeous Nightmare” is a striking track from Escape the Fate’s self-titled 2010 album. Crafted by the band, the paradoxical title reflects the theme of finding beauty in turmoil. The lyrics tell the story of a man hopelessly in love with a chaotic woman. Despite her disarray, her actions continue to fascinate him, illustrating the powerful pull of a tumultuous relationship. The song delves into the complexities of loving someone deeply despite the pain they may cause.
# 7 – Ungrateful
“Ungrateful” is the title track from Escape the Fate’s 2013 album. Drummer Ortiz explained in an interview that the song was originally written as a defiant ‘middle finger’ to the band’s detractors. However, as they developed the track, it evolved into a more potent statement. The band chose to name their 2013 album after this song, using it to encapsulate the missteps and squandered opportunities in their journey. This title reflects a moment of self-reflection and acknowledgment of their past challenges.
# 6 – Picture Perfect
Also from Escape the Fate’s 2013 album Ungrateful is the poignant song “Picture Perfect.” Inspired by the death of guitarist Monte Money’s childhood friend, the song delves into the theme of loss. Vocalist Craig Mabbitt described it as reflecting the pain of losing someone so significant that you can perfectly envision their image with your eyes closed. “Picture Perfect” was well-received by critics and resonates deeply with listeners, striking a chord with its exploration of the profound emotions associated with the loss of loved ones.
# 5 – The Flood
“The Flood” is an energetic track from Escape the Fate’s 2008 album This War Is Ours. The band worked with producer John Feldmann to compose this song. Featuring both Ronnie and Craig on vocals, their collaboration might be considered one of the band’s greatest highlights. Their vocal performances are exceptionally powerful, establishing them as an ideal vocal duo for Escape the Fate. “The Flood” is also notable for the impressive performance the band delivered in the song’s official video, leaving a lasting impression on many fans.
# 4 – Something
Number four on our top 10 list is “Something” from Escape the Fate’s 2008 album This War Is Ours. Composed by the band members, the lyrics explore a troubled relationship that both parties are striving to salvage. Despite their efforts, each person yearns for more than their current, sorrowful situation, leading the narrator to regret becoming involved. While Escape the Fate’s vocalists often steal the show, “Something” highlights drummer Robert Ortiz’s exceptional skills, adding a dynamic flair to the track. The guitar riffs, especially towards the song’s conclusion, are also notably electrifying, capable of inducing goosebumps.
# 3 – Not Good Enough for Truth in Cliché
“Not Good Enough for Truth in Cliché” is a standout track from Escape the Fate’s album Dying Is Your Latest Fashion. Penned by the band’s original lineup, the song’s lyrics depict a tumultuous relationship that tragically ends with the death of those involved. There is speculation that the song may have been inspired by a personal tragedy involving Ronnie Radke’s girlfriend, who, according to some accounts, took her own life after a period of depression, for which she reportedly blamed him. This backstory adds a layer of depth and poignancy to the song, resonating deeply with fans.
# 2 – Broken Heart
Betrayal and sadness are challenging experiences that almost everyone will encounter at some point. Escape the Fate explores these themes in “Broken Heart,” a poignant yet powerful track from their 2018 album I Am Human. The lyrics reflect the struggles of enduring a difficult emotional breakup, with relief finally arriving as one moves on. “Broken Heart” melds pop-punk influences with post-hardcore elements, creating a standout track that deserves its spot on the top 10 Escape the Fate songs list. The song also achieved commercial success, peaking at number fifteen on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart.
# 1 – Situations
Number one on our top 10 Escape the Fate songs list is “Situations” from the band’s album Dying Is Your Latest Fashion. The song’s lyrics depict a cheating husband and his confrontations with his partner about his infidelity. Tragically, the girlfriend appears to be insignificant to him, with the man suggesting he is only under her influence when seeking intimacy. Notably, the song’s last line in the chorus provides the title for the album. The music video for “Situations” pays homage to Van Halen’s iconic “Hot For Teacher” video, mirroring scenes from Waldo boarding the bus at the beginning to the conclusion.
Photo: Derrick Austinson Photog, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Top 10 Escape The Fate Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2024
